The battle for premium passengers between some of the largest airlines in the U.S. is only just beginning.
Delta Air Lines is making a massive bet on all-suite business class, unveiling Monday a next-generation Delta One cabin on its Airbus A350-1000, slated to arrive in the friendly skies early next year, and plans to retrofit its entire A330-200/300 fleet with privacy-door suites in what the carrier is calling one of its largest fleet investments ever, totaling more than $1 billion.
The moves reflect a strategy clearly aiming to widen Delta’s lead in premium seating capacity at a moment when United Airlines has emerged as an increasingly credible threat to Delta’s lofty reputation as America’s go-to premium commercial carrier. While United unveiled a premium-heavy configuration of its own 787 Dreamliner recently, Delta’s new A350-1000 will deliver ever-so-slightly more premium seats (and an overall 50% premium mix when you factor in premium economy seating) positioning the carrier to absorb more high-yield demand as global travel demand rebounds.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Luxury Travel Advisor.
